Uiryeong-gun, "We Will Never Forget the Devotion for Our Country!"

6·25 War Veteran Private Bae Jaewon’s Younger Brother Receives Hwarang Military Merit Medal Ceremony

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Wook] Oh Tae-wan, the governor of Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam, presented the Hwarang Military Merit Medal, certificate, and commemorative plaque to Bae Jae-yoon, the younger brother of the late Private Bae Jae-won, a Korean War veteran, on behalf of the Minister of National Defense.

Gyeongnam Governor O Tae-wan of Uiryeong-gun presented the Military Merit Medal to Bae Jae-yoon (second from the right), the younger brother of the late Private Bae Jae-won.
[Image source=Uiryeong-gun Office]

The Hwarang Military Merit Medal is the fourth highest military decoration in the Republic of Korea, awarded to war heroes who have participated in combat or wartime for the country, or who have shown dedication and distinguished achievements in equivalent emergency situations.

The late Private Bae Jae-won distinguished himself in the Battle of Gasan in the Chilgok area of Gyeongbuk in August 1950 and died in action at the age of 18. Although he was selected as a recipient of the Hwarang Military Merit Medal at the time, the award was omitted during the wartime situation. It was later discovered by the Army's Korean War Medal Recovery Investigation Team, and the award ceremony was held more than 70 years later.

Governor Oh said, “Honoring national merit recipients is an obvious duty of the descendants living today,” and added, “Uiryeong-gun will spare no support so that veterans and bereaved families can live with pride.”